Kenny & Melson Win Four-Ball in Playoff
Edward Kenny and Paul Melson made par on the first playoff hole to clinch the 57th Florida State Four-Ball Championship at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor on July 8-9, 2006.
After 36 holes, Edward Kenny and Paul Melson and defending champions Andy Purnell and Steve Carter were tied with a two-round total of 7-under par 135 to force a playoff. Playing the par 4 18th hole, Kenny chipped the ball just three inches from the hole to make par to secure the title. “I thought it was going in,” said Kenny. “It feels really good to win.” Kenny, of Lake Worth, and Melson, of Plantation, posted a 69 in the first round to trail the leaders by three strokes. In the first round, the pair was 2-over after four holes but rebounded with three birdies on the back for a 32 to remain in contention. Playing their second tournament as partners, Kenny and Melson fired a 66 in the final round to jump in front of the field. Melson birdied holes one, four and eleven as Kenny made three consecutive birdies on holes five, six and seven to post a 32-34 for the final round. Going into the final round, Kenny said, “if we shoot 66 or better in the final round, we have to play together next year.” Now they will be the defending champions earning exempt status into next year’s Four-Ball Championship at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta. Kenny recently finished second in the Amateur Championship while this adds to Melson’s list of Championships. Melson won the 1990 Four-Ball Championship with Steve Saterbo as well as the 2001 Public Links Championship and 2003 Mid-Senior Championship.
The 2005 Champions Andy Purnell, of Jacksonville, and Steve Carter, of Jacksonville, shot 68-67 to make the playoff and take second place. Purnell made three birdies and Carter one to shoot 33-34 in the final round. Last year, the pair set a tournament record firing 64-59—123 at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando. Three teams finished with a tournament total of 137 including first round co-leaders Doug Snoap, of Apopka, and Robert Parker, from Sanford.
From June 14-28, teams attempted to advance to the Championship through one of eight qualifying tournaments. In qualifying, teams of two played 18 holes of four-ball stroke play in hopes of advancing to the Championship. The Championship also features exempt teams who earned exempt status through different categories. In the Championship, participants play 36 holes of four-ball stroke play in the two-day event. In four-ball stroke play, two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole. The Championship is played on the Copperhead Course, home of the PGA Tour’s Chrysler Championship.
Since 1950, teams of two play in the Four-Ball
Championship of 36 holes of stroke play. Non exempt teams must first
qualify at one of eight sites across the state.
Innisbrook offers four championship layouts, including the top-ranked
Copperhead Golf Course home to the PGA TOUR’s Chrysler Championship.
Copperhead is ranked #4 by Travel & Leisure Golf’s rankings of
Florida’s Top 50, with the Island Course at #15. Last year, Innisbrook
hosted the Two-Man Shoot-Out. 
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS 
